Radical With David Platt

 Almost everyone seems to have an opinion about the government, but too often we disconnect our view of the government from the teaching of God’s Word. We fail to ask questions like, What obligations and responsibilities do Christians have toward the government? Is there ever a time to disobey the government? If so, when? In this message from Mark 12:13–17, David Platt points us to some foundational truths from Jesus concerning the way we should think about our relationship to government and, more importantly, to God. As Christians, though we are to be submissive to the government, our ultimate allegiance is to God. Explore more content from Radical.

We naturally want to be in control of our lives. The idea that someone else might have authority over us can feel threatening. We see this in the response of the religious leaders in Jesus’ day, and we can see it in our own lives. In this message from Mark 11:27–12:12, David Platt encourages us to see the authority of Jesus as something to be submitted to and gladly embraced. When we turn from our sin and put our faith in Jesus, we are restored to God—the One we have rebelled against. Now, for those who belong to Jesus, his authority is the greatest news in all the world.Explore more content from Radical.

Is it possible for churches to worship in ways that are comfortable, all while ignoring the lost around them and far from them, including the unreached—the over 3 billion people in the world who have little or no access to the gospel? Sadly, this is a reality for many churches. We need to realize or be reminded: God calls all believers to pray, give, and go for the spread of the gospel among all nations. In addition to reverent fear, sorrow for sin, and faithful prayer, genuine worship should involve a desire to see all nations reached with the gospel of Christ. This is Part 2 of a message titled, “Are We Truly Worshiping?” from Mark 11:12–26.Explore more content from Radical.

It’s possible for churches to have people gathered, have access to God’s Word, display the outward forms of worship, and participate in a lot of religious activity and yet still miss the heart of genuine worship. In this message from David Platt from Mark 11:12–26, we’re reminded that true worship includes fear and reverence before God, confession of sin, and faithful prayer. Christ’s cleansing of the temple is a humbling reminder of the kind of worship God deserves.Explore more content from Radical.

If you’ve ever had your hopes dashed, lost your joy, or experienced deep grief, then it may be that you need to hear the voice of Jesus calling you like he called to Mary on that first Easter morning. Today we hear his voice in the words of Scripture, and through the gospel he offers us the very same peace that he offered to his followers while he was on earth. In this message from John 20, David Platt urges us to respond to Jesus now, while God has given us an opportunity. His claim to have risen from the dead has been believed by even the most resistant skeptics. How will you respond to the risen Christ?Explore more content from Radical.

Though Jesus came as a king, he was not the kind of king that most people expected. He didn’t come to provide immediate political and military victory, nor did he strike people as outwardly impressive. Jesus was different than other earthly kings. In this message from Mark 11:1–11, David Platt helps us see that, despite our expectations, Jesus Christ is precisely the kind of king we need. His authority, his humility, his power over sin, his ability to give us peace with God, and his ability heal us—for all these reasons and many more, there is no one like Jesus.Explore more content from Radical.

Music has a powerful way of stirring our affections, and many followers of Christ feel a passion and excitement for God when certain songs are played. While this can be very good and biblical, have you ever stopped to ask: what if we had that level of anticipation and eagerness to hear God’s Word? In this message from the Passion conference in 2023, David Platt points to Nehemiah 8 to highlight the priority we ought to put on God’s Word, and he recites the entirety of Romans 1-8 to demonstrate the powerful effect of Scripture as it is spoken. God’s Word is the final and authoritative truth for who we are and how God sees us. We ought to treasure it like it’s our life—because it is!—and we should long to make it known to those who are apart from Christ.Explore more content from Radical.

It may sound odd to the world, but the way to greatness comes through humility and dependence. Though we often don’t acknowledge it, we are completely dependent on God for everything—from our salvation to our growth in godliness to every detail of our lives. And all of this is made possible through Christ’s selfless service to us in which he laid down his life to atone for our sins. In this message from Matthew 10:32–45, David Platt asks us to consider ways in which we need God’s grace and strength, as well how we can serve others in reliance on him. We are to follow in the pattern of Christ, who became a servant for our salvation. Explore more content from Radical.

 What are you holding onto that is keeping you from the fullness of God in your life? Jesus calls his followers to radical surrender to his lordship and radical love for him. Yet, the sad reality is that many people choose the passing pleasures of sin and the comforts of this life. In this message from Mark 10:17–31, David Platt urges us to find true and eternal life in Jesus. Don’t hold back from living for him. Explore more content from Radical.

There is a constant temptation for all of us to settle for a safe, easy, comfortable Christianity that consists of casually going through motions on Sunday morning and moving on with our lives however we want to live them.  But that is not biblical Christianity, and it’s not what we’re made for. In this message from Exodus 14, David Platt urges the church to pursue the Lord’s lead and not to hold back from following him. Relying on God’s Word and empowered by his Spirit, we look expectantly for how the Lord will work out his saving purposes in and through us.Explore more content from Radical.

When is the last time you acknowledged that you were desperate for God? When is the last time you came to him, pouring out your heart, longing for his presence and grace and power to obey him? In this message from Isaiah 54:2, David Platt exhorts us not to hold back in our pursuit of God and in our desire to bring glory to him. As the bride of Christ, the church should not want to hold back in becoming all that God intends for us. This message is drawn from themes from David’s new book, Don’t Hold Back: Leaving Behind the American Gospel to Follow Jesus Fully.Explore more content from Radical.

We don’t usually think of boasting as a good thing. Drawing attention to our talents, wealth, status, etc., is often a sign of sinful pride. However, there is something we should boast in as followers of Christ—the cross. In this message from Galatians 6:11–18, David Platt gives us five reasons we have to boast based on Christ’s death on the cross. Justification by grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone means boasting in the cross alone. Explore more content from Radical.

The greatest evidence of the Spirit-filled life is not dramatic signs and wonders but rather love for other believers. As Christians, we combat self-obsession and vain competition through humble confession before God. In this message on Galatians 6:1–10, David Platt warns us against self-centeredness and self-righteousness while pointing us to the marks of true spiritual community.Explore more content from Radical.

 Few topics are more off-putting and offensive to non-Christians than the Bible’s teaching about hell. Even some Christians seem to be embarrassed at this topic. For many people, the idea of eternal punishment seems to be incompatible with a God of love. However, no one spoke more pointedly and arrestingly about hell than Jesus himself. And he told us this to warn us—he wants us to take heed. In this message, David Platt considers Christ’s words about hell in Mark 9:42–50 and urges us to respond appropriately. Hell is a dreadful reality that is consistent with God’s perfect justice and holiness toward sinners. At the same time, heaven is a glorious reality for all who turn from their sin and from trusting in themselves to trust in Jesus. Because of Christ’s sinless life, sin-bearing death, and glorious, bodily resurrection, those who trust in Him can know that they have eternal life. Explore more content from Radical.

Christians often talk about being “free,” but do we realize what we’ve been freed to do? Or have we adopted the world’s definition of freedom? In this message from Galatians 5:1–25, David Platt helps us understand the kind of freedom that God gives us in the gospel—a freedom that results in neither legalism nor license. It’s a freedom that enables us to live by faith in God in the power of the Spirit. With this kind of freedom, we can walk in hope and with love for God and others.Explore more content from Radical.

Do you want to be “great”? Before you answer that question, it’s important to get the right definition of greatness. Sadly, the world’s definition of greatness is often polar opposite to the Bible’s definition of greatness. In this message from Mark 9:30–37, David Platt points us to Jesus’ interaction with his disciples about what true greatness looks like. With the cross before him, Jesus taught and demonstrated for us that true greatness isn’t self-serving and it doesn’t seek to gain the approval of others. Instead, it finds its satisfaction in God and is therefore freed up to serve God and others. Explore more content from Radical.

 When we hear the word “freedom,” we usually think about having the ability to do whatever we want to do or what we think is best. However, God frees us from our sin and from the law’s condemnation so that we might live in a relationship with him and walk in obedience to his Word, even when it’s difficult. In this message from Galatians 4:8–31, David Platt highlights the freedom the gospel brings in terms of our relationship with God. We no longer live for fading earthly pleasures because we’ve been freed to live in light of our new, heavenly home. Explore more content from Radical.

 In the busyness of our schedules and the pressing needs of everyday life, it’s easy for us to ignore the things that matter most—things that have eternal significance. In this message, David Platt urges us from Genesis 1:27 (and other Scriptures) to resolve to live for what really matters now and forever. We need to be able to answer questions like, “Who am I?”, “What is wrong in the world?”, “How can it be made right?”, and “How can I experience life to the full, both now and forever?” The start of a new year is a good time to reset by pursuing life to the full through praying, fasting, and hearing and obeying God’s Word. Explore more content from Radical.

There may not be a greater privilege in all the world than to be adopted into God’s family, and yet this is precisely what God has done for us by sending His Son who was fully God and fully man to redeem us through the cross. In this message from Galatians 3:26–4:7, David Platt points us to the amazing reality of our spiritual adoption into God’s family through Jesus Christ. God not only adopts us through His Son, He also sends the Spirit of His Son into our hearts. As former rebels deserving of God’s wrath, those who are in Christ now have the privilege of calling God our Father. Explore more content from Radical.

Who was the baby born in a manger that we celebrate at Christmas? This is a question everyone has to answer, and it’s one that divides people across the world and throughout history. In this Christmas message, David Platt highlights the mystery of Christ’s incarnation based on Colossians 2:5–11. The baby born in Bethlehem was both fully God and fully man; the One through whom all things were made yet who walked among us. And it is only through Christ’s life, death, and resurrection that we can be saved. Each of us must respond to him.Explore more content from Radical.